Je svet odsúdený k hladu a vojnám?
Vysoké ceny potravinových komodít môžu iniciovať dlhotrvajúce konflikty, varuje OSN.
UN experts warn: long-standing conflicts set off by higher food prices are in store for the world.
“Imminent wars will break out due to worsening living conditions in poor countries,” Jean Ziegler, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food said. Within the past two months prices on rice increased by 52 percent, while grain prices soared by 84 percent. As a result, several countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America were hit by mass riots and revolts of the hungry.
Experts associate the price growth with several factors. First of all, food demand is increasing rapidly in such developing countries as China and India. Secondly, the record-high prices on fuel affect food prices. Thirdly, expensive traditional fuel and developing modern technologies whip up global economies’ interest in biofuels which can be obtained from such raw materials as maize, rye, sugar and palm oil.
“In the near- and medium-term prospects food prices will be going up, which will bring more hunger. It will be a different kind of hunger. Food shortages in developing countries used to be caused by draught or other similar factors. That’s why people had nothing to eat. Nowadays, most countries have enough food. But it is so expensive that people cannot afford it,” said Nancy Roman, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) Director.
Zdroj: pravda.ru
24.04.2008